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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Norman (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Norman. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Norman is located in Williamson County.

To see how the shape of Texas' counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Williamson County: Bastrop, Bell, Burnet, Lee, Milam & Travis.

Below are the counties that are near Norman. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Norman:

  • Williamson County     (The home county of Norman)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
    • Hutto
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
      • Hutto is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutto
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 29,987 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hutto <1>
    • Coupland
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
    • Taylor
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
      • Taylor is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,921 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Taylor <1>
    • Beyersville
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
      • Beyersville is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Beyersville
    • Old Round Rock ‑ Historic
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Old Round Rock is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Round Rock
    • Round Rock
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Thrall
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Thrall is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thrall
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,014 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Thrall <1>
    • Weir
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
      • Weir is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Weir
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 549 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Weir <1>
    • Hoxie
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Hoxie is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hoxie
    • Georgetown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Brushy Creek
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
      • Brushy Creek is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Brushy Creek
    • Granger
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the north)
    • Jollyville
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the west)
      • Jollyville is located in Williamson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jollyville
  • Bastrop County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
    • Elgin
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
      • Elgin is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,756 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elgin <1>
    • McDade
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the southeast)
    • Camp Swift
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Camp Swift is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Camp Swift
    • Wyldwood
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Wyldwood is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wyldwood
    • Phelan
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southeast)
      • Phelan is located in Bastrop County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Phelan
    • Cedar Creek
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the south)
    • Bastrop
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Paige
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Bell County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
    • Bartlett
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
    • Vilas
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northeast)
      • Vilas is located in Bell County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vilas
    • Holland
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
  • Lee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
    • Knobbs Springs
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southeast)
      • Knobbs Springs is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Knobbs Springs
    • Blue
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
      • Blue is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue
    • Fedor
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southeast)
      • Fedor is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fedor
    • Lexington
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
    • Hicks
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Hicks is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hicks
    • Tanglewood
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Tanglewood is located in Lee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tanglewood
  • Milam County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
    • Thorndale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Davilla
      (23 miles [37 km] to the northeast)
    • Val Verde
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Val Verde is located in Milam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Val Verde
    • Tracy
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Tracy is located in Milam County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tracy
  • Travis County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.
    • Cele
      (4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
      • Cele is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cele
    • Manda ‑ Historic
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • Manda is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manda
    • New Sweden
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
      • New Sweden is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sweden
    • Pflugerville
      (7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
    • Windemere
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
      • Windemere is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Windemere
    • Three Points
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
      • Three Points is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Three Points
    • Manor
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
      • Manor is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manor
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,767 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Manor <1>
    • Wells Branch
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
      • Wells Branch is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wells Branch
    • Littig
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
      • Littig is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littig
    • Kings Village
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the west)
      • Kings Village is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kings Village
    • Villa Siesta Retirement Village
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Daffan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Daffan is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daffan
    • Webberville
      (18 miles [29 km] to the south)

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Norman, see our County-by-County Page for Norman.

Cemeteries Near Norman ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Norman.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Norman - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Norman covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.

  • Kimbro Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northeast)
  • Shiloh Cemetery
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the west)
  • Prairie Hill Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the south)
  • Avery Cemetery
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
  • St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southwest)
  • Pfluger Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the southwest)
  • New Sweden Lutheran Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
  • Guadalupe Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
  • Rosehill Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the south)
  • St. Marys Cemetery
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the northeast)
  • Hill Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Schiller Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
  • Continue List   (225 more) ...
    • Schiller Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Beyersville Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
    • Sloan - Easley Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>

While we didn't find Norman in the Atlas, the following 1895 communities would have been found near the current location of Norman.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Norman, with the one closest to Norman listed first.

  • Rices Crossing
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Rices Crossing is located in Williamson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rices Crossing
  • Hutto
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Hutto is located in Williamson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hutto
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 29,987 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hutto <1>
  • New Sweden
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
    • New Sweden is located in Travis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for New Sweden
  • Coupland
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Taylor
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northeast)
    • Taylor is located in Williamson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Taylor
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 17,921 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Taylor <1>
  • Jonah
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Jonah is located in Williamson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jonah
  • Circleville
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the north)
    • Circleville is located in Williamson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Circleville
  • Manor
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the south)
    • Manor is located in Travis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Manor
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 15,767 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Manor <1>
  • Round Rock
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
  • Old Round Rock ‑ Historic
    (11 miles [17.7 km] to the west)
    • Old Round Rock is located in Williamson County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Round Rock
  • Littig
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Littig is located in Travis County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Littig
  • Elgin
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
    • Elgin is located in Bastrop County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elgin
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 10,756 people
    • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Elgin <1>
  • Continue List   (17 more) ...
    • McNeil
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the west)
      • McNeil is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McNeil
    • Daffan
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Daffan is located in Travis County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Daffan
    • Georgetown
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Norman. See our List of 1890's Communities around Norman.

Newspapers Published in Norman ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 279 newspapers that have been published in the area around Norman.

Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Norman, there are papers which were published within 28 miles [45.1 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Norman.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Norman:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<3>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Norman, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<4>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Norman) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.